Middle School Geo Bee - December 15, 2009
On December 15, our two elementary winners joined fourteen middle school students for the middle school Geography Bee. The contestants were: Andrew Klysh, Mark Potocki, Sam Sticha, Rachel Ravencroft, Jessica Mattox, Ellie VanStee, Connor Vander Brug, Christopher Gregorio, Chad Miedema, Joe Vazzano, Justin Gargano, Raul Gutierrez, Devin May, Russell Clousing, Joe Sikes, and Cole Miller.
Contestants’ names are drawn at random to determine the order of participation. The questions for the Geography Bee are written for a national audience. What is easy for an Illinois student may be very difficult for a student from another state..
The first four categories were US Cities, Continents, US Historical Geography, and questions based on a map of US Commute Times. Next came the very difficult Cultural Geography section. To answer correctly, students have to know about world geography and cultural highlights without multiple choice questions. This round elminated six students. Rounds eight and nine reduced the field to two for the championship round. The final contestants were asked three questions about world geography. Devin May and Joe Sikes responded to the same three questions about world geography and the student with the most correct wins. Devin May was crowned our Geography Bee Champion with Joe as runner-up..
Both boys received an atlas and Devin also receives a $500 scholarship for tuition at Timothy next year. Later in the year he will take a written test in an attempt to represent Illinois in the National Geography Bee. Congratulations to all our participants and especially Devin and Joe!!
